HOUSE BILL NO. 623 Introduced by
Rep. Cobleigh of Hillsborough Dist. 15
Referred to Committee on Statutory Revision
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one
AN ACT
extending the application of the right to know law to the legislature and all its committees.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Definitions. Amend RSA 91-A:1 (supp) as inserted by 1967, 251:1 by striking out said section and inserting in place thereof the following new section:
91-A:1 Definition of Public Proceedings. The term "public proceedings" as used in this chapter means the transaction of any functions affecting any or all citizens of the state by any of the following:
I. The general court including executive sessions of committees;
II. The governor's council;
III. Any board or commission of any state agency or authority;
IV. Any board, commission, agency, or authority, of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision.
2 Notice of Legislative Committee Meetings. Amend RSA 91-A:2 (supp) as inserted by 1967, 251:1 and amended by 1969, 482:1 by striking out said section and inserting in place thereof the following: 91-A:2 Meetings Open to the Public. All public proceedings shall be open to the public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meetings of those bodies or agencies. Minutes of all such meetings, including names of members, persons appearing before the bodies or agencies, and a brief description of the subject matter discussed and final decisions shall be promptly recorded and open to public inspection within seventy-two hours of the public meeting, except as provided by section 5 of this chapter, and shall be treated as permanent records of any body or agency, without exception. Except in an emergency or when there is a meeting of a legislative committee, a notice of the time and place of each such meeting shall be posted in two appropriate public places or shall be printed in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town at least twenty-four hours, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, prior to such meetings. An emergency shall mean a situation where immediate undelayed action is deemed to be imperative and the minutes of the meeting shall clearly spell out the need for the emergency meeting. When a meeting of a legislative committee is held, publication made pursuant to the rules of the house of representatives shall be sufficient notice. If the charter of any city or guide lines set down by the appointing authority requires a broader public access to official meetings and records than herein described, such charter provisions or guide lines shall take precedence over the requirements of this chapter.
3 Meeting Not Public. Amend RSA 91-A:3, II (supp) as inserted by 1967, 251:1 by inserting after paragraph (d) the following new paragraph: (e) Matters being discussed by a legislative committee sitting in executive session, which should not be made public, as determined by a majority vote of the members present and voting at such meeting.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect sixty days after its passage.